Day of Portugal Festival 2023

CONTACT INFO :

Fax : (001) (508) 324-2584.
E-mail : aoliveira@fallriverma.org .
Website : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gates_of_the_City,_Fall_River .

DESCRIPTION :

Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. of Fall River officially unveiled the "Portas da Cidade" or "Gates of the City", Fall River's newest attraction on its waterfront along with Ponta Delgada Mayor Berta Cabral on July 22, 2006. Project Committee Chairman Francisco Cabral oversaw the fundraising for the monument as well as all phases of its development. The Orquestra Ligeira, a 21-member group from Ponta Delgada, the city that co-sponsored the construction of the Gates, was on hand to provide a musical accompaniment to the ceremony.

The 30 by 60 foot monument is a replica of a structure in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island's capital city and has been under construction since the first stones arrived in March, 2004. Many of Fall River's citizens immigrated from São Miguel and the other six islands in the Azores. A sister-city pact between Fall River and Ponta Delgada was signed in 1978, and the relationship between the two cities has grown under the leadership of Mayor Lambert and Mayor Berta Maria Correia de Almeida de Melo Cabral of Ponta Delgada. The Gates are part of the City's Waterfront Access Plan.

ABOUT THE EVENT :

DAY OF PORTUGAL FESTIVAL 2023.

Portugal Day, officially in Portuguese "Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas" (Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities), is Portugal's National Day celebrated annually on 10 June. It is one of the public holidays in Portugal and celebrated by Portuguese people throughout the world. It commemorates the death on 10 June 1580 of Luís de Camões, a poet and national literary icon.

Camões wrote "Os Lusíadas" (usually translated as The Lusiads), Portugal's national epic poem celebrating Portuguese history and achievements. The poem focuses mainly on the 15th-century Portuguese explorations, which brought fame and fortune to the country. The poem, considered one of the finest and most important works in Portuguese literature, became a symbol for the great feats of the Portuguese Empire.

Camões was an adventurer who lost one eye fighting in Ceuta, wrote the poem while traveling, and survived a shipwreck in Cochinchina (a region of present-day Vietnam). According to popular folklore, Camões saved his epic poem by swimming with one arm while keeping the other arm above water. Since his date of birth is unknown, his date of death is celebrated as Portugal's National Day.

Although Camões became a symbol for Portugal nationalism, his death coincided with the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580 that eventually resulted in Philip II of Spain claiming the Portuguese throne. Portugal was then ruled by three generations of Spanish kings during the Iberian Union (1580–1640). On 1 December 1640, the country regained its independence once again by expelling the Spanish during the Portuguese Restoration War and making John of Bragança, King John IV of Portugal.

During the authoritarian Estado Novo regime in the 20th century, Camões was used as a symbol for the Portuguese nation. In 1944, at the dedication ceremony of the National Stadium in Oeiras (near Lisbon), Prime Minister António de Oliveira Salazar referred to 10 June as Dia da Raça (Day of the Portuguese Race). The notion of a Portuguese "race" served his nationalist purposes.

Portugal Day celebrations were officially suspended during the Carnation Revolution in 1974. Celebrations resumed after 1974 and were expanded to include the Comunidades Portuguesas (Portuguese Comunities), Portuguese emigrants and their descendants living in communities all around the world.

In the United States, Portuguese-Americans celebrate the holiday throughout the country, especially in Portuguese-American neighborhoods.

This year, the Day of Portugal Festival of the city of Fall River, MA occurs during 4 days : from June 8th to 11th. This popular festival, which draws annually more than 20,000 people to the City Gates Plaza over its four feast days, was postponed in 2021 from its typical June slot to August due to COVID-19. It was canceled, along with just about every other event in 2020 because of the virus and restrictions.

A festival that brings food, faith, and entertainment to the city will be returning once again. One of the more popular events in Fall River which features Portuguese and American singing acts, along with food from area restaurants and a kids fair, will be hosted this year by well known radio and television personality Ricardo Farias.

Start Time : 1:00 PM.
This is an all day FREE ADMISSION EVENT !

Outdoor Concert and Festival - All Ages - Portuguese Foods and Drinks Available (Valid ID and a $1 Bracelet are Required to Purchase Alcohol).

Free parking with trolley service to and from the Pearl Street Parking Garage every 15 minutes. Other outdoor parking lots are available too around Firestone Pond.

Organized by :

DAY OF PORTUGAL - FALL RIVER
Promedia Audiovisuals Office.
203 Palmer Street.
Fall River, MA 02724-3224.
UNITED STATES.
Office Phone : (001) (508) 678-8145.
Cell Phone : (001) (774) 526-0852.
Fax : (001) (508) 672-1282.
E-mail : dayofportugalfr@gmail.com .
Website : www.facebook.com/DOPFR2023 .

DESCRIPTION :

The mission of Day of Portugal - Fall River, a 501(c)(3) corporation, is to promote the country of Portugal beyond its borders. In order to accomplish its mission, the organization holds an annual event that contributes to the expansion and strengthening of the Portuguese culture ; promotes and stimulates recreation, sports and cultural activities through various events ; and establishes a cooperative relationship between the government of Portugal, the city of Fall River, and other municipalities in Portugal for the exchange and interaction of regional artists, artisans, folklore and culture.

Day of Portugal - Fall River's Organizing Committee celebrates the Portuguese heritage and culture by organizing the annual Day of Portugal Festival of the city of Fall River, MA in mid-June.

Organizing Committee members are :

- Floriano Cabral.
- Kevin Santos.
- Michael Benevides.
- Michael Louro.
- Jaime Louro.
- Kevin DaPonte.
- Luís Pacheco.
- Derrick DeMelo.
- Tony Rodrigues.
- Paulo Rodrigues.
- John Gonçalves.

President : Mr. Floriano Cabral.

LINEUP :

At 1:00 PM :
- Food Court Opens and Kids Fair with Special Character Visits, Face Painting, Airbrush Tattoos, Trackless Train Ride, Touch-A-Truck, and more.

At 3:00 PM :
- Kids Magic Show by magician Stevie Kidding, The Ridiculous Magician at the Empire Hyundai Pavilion.

At 3:45 PM : The Opening Performance.
- Portuguese-American folklore group "Grupo Folclórico da Sociedade Cultural Açoreana".

At 4:45 PM :
- Portuguese-American band "BandFaith".

At 6:00 PM : The Headline Artist.
- JORGE FERREIRA's CONCERT !!!

At 7:35 PM :
- Drawing of Raffle.

Additional Special Guest : Vavó Brito (The Brito Comedy).